Book Review: ‘A field guide to fleece” by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius

I’ve been neglecting the blog a bit this week to give more time to prayer and healing (mine) as I recuperate from being sick last week. But I’m delighted to say that my friend Kris Byrnes from Winters Past Farms down in Allentown (New Jersey) has sent me a guest book review to share with you. Many of you will remember that Kris raises Coopworth sheep and has reviewed other books for me about raising sheep.

The book she’s reviewing today, “A field guide to fleece,” is an exploration of the specific characteristics of the wools produced by different breeds of sheep. I couldn’t think of a better person to write about it, and I think that you’ll agree when you read her review. Here it is:

“The Field Guide to Fleece” is a new book to teach you about the specific characteristics of the fibers produced by different breeds of sheep. Kris Byrnes photographed it surrounded by the freshly shorn Coopworth fibers raised on her farm.

All over the country, snow is melting, grass is greening, and the shepherd’s thoughts turn to shearing. Good shearers are hard-to-find, and so a well-organized shepherd makes her call early in the season to secure her favorite, with fingers crossed that she can get a date that works for her and her flock.

When the big day actually comes, a lot of preparation work has already taken place. A crew of helpers, from a few to a lot, has been arranged; food for those helpers has been cooked; and the location has been cleared. It’s time for the moment of truth, when the fleeces come off the sheep’s backs, and a shepherd can get an idea of the quality and quantity of the annual harvest. More shepherds each year are foregoing the wool pool, where fleeces are only worth pennies per pound, to market them directly to fiber artists. Some use the Internet, while others rely on fleece sales at local fiber festivals to connect with their purchasers.

This is where The Field Guide to Fleece by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius comes in. The book is a treasure trove for fleece buyers. The fleece qualities and characteristics of 100 breeds are listed in alphabetical order to make it easy to locate crucial information about the one in front of you at the fleece sale. The book does not limit itself to North American breeds; it includes many breeds from Europe and the United Kingdom as well.

The book’s compact size and rounded edges are perfectly suited to popping into a coat pocket or bag for quick retrieval and reference, as befits a field guide. The smooth heavy pages allow for quick flipping, making it a breeze to page through for the breed in question.

Each breed is given a two-page spread, with the information organized in the same order to make it easy to scan for the facts of particular interest to your project.

The left hand side is headed with the breed name and a notation of whether the breed is in conservation or critical conservation status, with a picture of that sheep at the bottom. The text provides detailed information about that sheep’s fleece, including a description of the lock structure and characteristics of the fiber. Most helpfully, the text gives tips on the ideal methods to prepare and spin that particular fleece for best results, as well as its ability to felt. Under separate headings, the authors explain the fleece’s reaction to dyes and list the best uses for the fiber.

On the right-hand side of the page are quick reference facts about the fleece (micron count, average staple length, colors, etc.) in the top corner, along with a space for notes. This page also includes a photo of a representative lock of wool, next to a scaled ruler for reference. A call-out on the bottom right, shaped like a little tag, contains interesting facts about the breed and sheep, which may include its history, foundation breeds, or even current owners. For example, Prince Charles owns a flock of 400 Lleyn sheep, and Swaledale are so attached to their historical grazing grounds that fencing them is unnecessary. Often these facts piqued my interest finding out more about particular breeds.

One of the most valuable sources of information contained in the book is the photo of the lock of wool, in combination with the detailed description of a typical lock. It provides a great way to teach yourself about lock structure. If you ever wondered what it means for a lock structure to be “disorganized” or “blocky” or “pointed,” a comparison of the descriptions on the left-hand page with the photo of the lock on the right will provide an excellent education. The book does have a brief introduction and glossary to help with terms, but the bulk of the information is contained in the page spreads for each breed.

Although I have never been tempted to purchase a fleece internationally, this book changed that desire. The description of certain breeds and the characteristics of their fleece made them downright irresistible. The same is true for rare breeds, which I suspect was one of the authors’ goals in putting this book together. The conservation status provides an easy way for fiber artists to support and encourage the continued growth of endangered breeds. Breeds such as Santa Cruz are now on the top of my list of must-have acquisitions, and I will snap one up if I happen across it, in part because of rarity.

The caption on the back of the book claims it will help you “choose the best fleece, every time,” and it’s not an idle boast. As you head out to fleece sales at fiber festivals, or browse the offering of shepherds online, the information in this small book is the perfect companion to help you find exactly what you need for your next project.

About Pam MacKenzie

Pam MacKenzie grew up in a real estate family. Her parents were real estate brokers and office managers, and she herself was a licensed agent in the 1970s. But early on, Pam discovered she'd much rather write about the industry than sell. Now in her eighth year as the real estate editor at the Courier News, Pam believes she has the best job at the paper. In this blog, she's on a mission to empower readers to give them a strong understanding of anything and everything that can impact their ability to own a home. And she believes passionately that when you understand the real estate industry in New Jersey, you understand so much more: the education system, economic and racial bias, the way politics works or doesn't work and ecology, to name a few. She invites everybody to leave lots of comments, even when they disagree with her.

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Pam explores local knitting groups and yarn shops, critiques patterns and shares her wisdom on techniques for improving your craft.

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Pam MacKenzie
Our real estate editor, Pam MacKenzie, expresses her creative side in this blog about knitting. Pam learned to knit at age 6, when her friend’s mother made Pam’s doll a dress, and Pam wanted to make more. Her mother wanted her to learn how to sew in high school, but she was afraid of the sewing machines, cutting fabric the wrong way, and the potential that sewing would have for bringing down her grade-point average. Every year, she managed to find a course conflict to avoid sewing classes. But the day after high school graduation, she took her graduation money to a fabric store, bought a kit to make a sweater, taught herself to read patterns and never looked back. These days, she knits a prayer shawl every month, along with sweaters, tote bags, gift bags and other goodies. She also designs many of her projects. Read More About PamE-mail Pam